As some of you may know, I was a teacher for thirty four years before I became a writer. Now that I have co-founded an indie collaborative, published three novels, (one of which became a bestseller in its genre), reached the final of the prestigious Exeter Novel Prize, and written 52,000 words of my fourth novel – it seemed a natural progression that I should share what I’ve learned with other writers.

my last day as a deputy headteacher

Over the last year and a half I have given talks  to writers’ groups, Ladies’ Luncheon  Clubs, RNA chapters,  third year Arts students at De Montfort University, Leicester and organised self-publishing workshops. I am very excited about my latest venture – outlined above – a four hour talk on how to self publish one’s novel.  It wasn’t until I started planning my talk that I realised how far I’d come and how much I’d learned since publishing Tall, Dark and Kilted in November 2012.

SELF PUBLISHING IS NOT FOR SISSIES

So what will I cover during my talk?

here’s a brief outline –

• what to do now you’ve finished your novel
• where to have your manuscript critiqued, edited, proofread, formatted for kindle
• where to buy stock images/ have front cover images professionally designed
• Amazon ISBN vs Nielsen ISBN – which is best for an indie author?
• point attendees towards two  ‘how to’ self-help books available in the kindle library
• explain the difference between formatting a ms for Kindle and Paperback
• how to negotiate your way round CreateSpace and create your ‘free’ paperback
• Tax witholding for non-US publishers
• explain how KDP Select/ KNRP/Kindle Unlimited works for indie publishers
• to preorder or not?
• how Scotch on the Rocks became a best seller within two weeks of publication
• how to form an indie collaborative

Many thanks to Alison Knight, fellow member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association for inviting me to give this talk. Here’s Alison’s latest novel – Rosie Goes to War..

If you are interested in attending this workshop, book a place by contacting the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre on: 01249 705500

• I also present workshops on how to sell books through social media
• readers – where to find them and how to keep them!
• how to write contemporary romance
• I am available for Weddings, Christenings and Bar Mitzvahs (just kidding)

A recent workshop held in Leicester